Houses could be built on the site of a country club after council officers were unable to dismiss the possibility of residential development.

At a standing only annual general meeting at Bushey Country Club last night (Tuesday) Hertsmere Borough Council officers could not confirm that housing was not an option.

However, council leader Cllr Morris Bright strongly reiterated that no decision has been made over the future of the site.

In December, the council announced that the country club will close on April 1 after a series of “unsustainable financial losses” which amounted to £685,000 last year.

Cllr Bright was accompanied by all 11 Bushey councillors for the two-hour meeting, which had been arranged by voluntary residents’ organisation the Bushey Forum.

More than 100 people attended and a further 100 people were unable to get in after an “unprecedented” crowd turned up. A decision was taken for the meeting to go ahead but it will be repeated at a later date for those who were not able to get in.

One audience member asked whether the council could give an undertaking that any of this property would not become residential development.

The council officer said that if the proposal was raised in consultation, it was not something that could be “dismissed”.

The council are under pressure from the government to build 8,000 new homes across the borough as part of the new Local Plan.

Bushey councillor Paul Morris is set to chair a group, similar to one created in Radlett when campaigners opposed the redevelopment of Newberries car park.

Cllr Morris, who will act as a contact for public consultation, acknowledged the growing feeling to protect the green space of the club site.

He said: “As councillors, we are all in accord that the open green space that is the current golf course cannot be lost and must be retained for the benefit and use of the community.

“Councillors will not support any major encroachment onto the golf course.”

Cllr Bright added: “It is imperative from the outset that the people of Bushey know the council is seeking the best outcome for its residents.”

Cllr Bright said there were a number of reasons that had led to the country club’s decline.

He said: “We have seen a nationwide loss of interest in golf and membership at the club has decreased. And we have had to deal with rising costs and lack of income. Bushey Country Club was always identified as a risk. Hertsmere Leisure Trust is a charity and we cannot put it in jeopardy.”

It was confirmed that the golf course is built on green belt land and it is only the country club car park and the buildings themselves that are not on greenbelt.

Council officers said they expected the consultation process to take at least six months, starting from this week.

Bushey Forum apologised to the people who were not able to get into the AGM.

Newly elected chairman Phillip Nowlan said: “The turnout exceeded our expectations. Normally we have 20 people attending our meetings but we expected maybe to push 50, perhaps 100. We’re sorry to all those who missed out.”